Towne Park Systems, the franchising arm of Towne Park, which provides valet parking, parking management and hospitality staffing services, has awarded its first franchise agreement in Charleston, SC. The company says this is part of an expansion plan to offer entrepreneurs nationwide the opportunity to provide the same award-winning service that Towne Park has offered for 24 years. Having more than 25 years of parking experience, Eric

Vasterling joins the unit as its first franchisee. He previously was Senior VP of Towne Park’s healthcare division. The franchise will begin operating immediately. “My decision to become a franchisee was easy,” Vasterling said. “Having been involved with the parking industry for most of my professional life, I know that the excellence Towne Park Systems demands and the success they have achieved will be translated seamlessly to each market, including Charleston.” “Charleston offers the perfect customer base for us,” said

VP and General Manager Kirk Pozadzides. “We offer a proven business model to franchisees that provides an unmatched experience to both clients and customers. We know we have found a great partner in Eric, and look forward to having him launch the next step in rounding out the national footprint.” Other markets Towne Park Systems is currently pursuing

include Virginia Beach, VA.; Oklahoma City; Milwaukee; and Charlotte and Raleigh, NC. Franchises start at $27,750 and are available in markets across the country. For more information, visit www.towneparkfranchise.com. (Sources: Towne Park, Towne Park Systems)

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Parkmobile Tops 1.5 Million Transactions in DC

Parkmobile USA announced in early March that the mobile payment for a parking program in Washington, DC, has exceeded 1.5 million transactions since its start in July 2011. With the Parkmobile solution, DC residents and visitors

can pay for parking using their cellphone. More than 70% of parking transactions are conducted via Parkmobile mobile apps, the company says, adding that the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) program shows one of the highest volumes of mobile app payments in the US. “Our partnership with the DDOT is very exciting,”

said Albert Bogaard, CEO of Parkmobile USA. “Close to 250,000 members have signed up for the DC program, with an additional 1,000 new members joining each day. These numbers show how much DC residents and visitors appreciate the convenience and ease of the Parkmobile solution used in the DDOT program.”

“Thousands of motorists use the pay-by-phone system

every day in our city,” said DDOT Director Terry Bellamy, “and that’s a testament to how successful the program has been in its first eight months. It’s a great step forward in our effort to make parking [here] more convenient and cutting-edge.” (Source: Parkmobile USA)